Lieutenant Colonel Brandon W. Graham
Lieutenant Colonel Graham was born and raised in the suburbs surrounding the Twin Cities. He joined the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps at Boston University in 1993 where he completed his undergraduate education in History and International Relations with honors. Upon graduation from Boston University in May 1997, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps.
Following completion of The Basic School and Infantry Officer Course, Lieutenant Colonel Graham was assigned to 3d Battalion, 4th Marines in April 1998. During this tour, he served as Rifle Platoon Commander, Weapons Platoon Commander, Heavy Weapons Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer, Company Commander and Assistant Logistics Officer, and participated in various exercises and a unit deployment to Okinawa, Japan.
In August 2001, Lieutenant Colonel Graham was transferred to the 31st Seabee Readiness Group, Port Hueneme, California, where he served as Military Training Officer, providing combat skills and crew served weapons training to the Pacific Fleet Seabees. Following this assignment, Lieutenant Colonel Graham reported to the Marine Corps University’s Expeditionary Warfare School in August 2004 and graduated with distinction in May 2005.
Ordered to 1st Battalion, 1st Marines in June 2005, Lieutenant Colonel Graham took command of Company A. Lieutenant Colonel Graham deployed the company to Al Anbar Province, Iraq in support of OIF 5-07 from January to August 2006. The following year, Lieutenant Colonel Graham was reassigned as the Battalion’s Operations Officer and returned to Al Anbar Province in support of OIF 6-08 from June 2007 to February 2008.
In August 2008, Lieutenant Colonel Graham reported to the Center for Special Operations Knowledge and Futures, U.S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, Florida, where he served as the Training Readiness Officer under the J7 Training Assessments Branch. Following this assignment, Lieutenant Colonel Graham reported to the Marine Corps University’s Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia, in August 2011 and graduated with distinction in June 2012. Remaining in Quantico for a second year, Lieutenant Colonel Graham completed the School of Advanced Warfighting in June 2013.
Lieutenant Colonel Graham reported to the 1st Marine Division in June of 2013 and served as the G-3 Assistant Plans Officer until June of 2014. On 20 June, Lieutenant Colonel Graham assumed command of Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry - West.
Lieutenant Colonel Graham’s personal decorations include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with Combat Distinguishing Device) and two gold stars in lieu of third award, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.